World Future Energy Summit Opens In Abu Dhabi, Focuses On Climate Change Agenda

The 16th edition of the World Future Energy Summit kicked off at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) on Tuesday. The event will focus on advancing the climate change agenda, which was highlighted during COP28 last year.

The three-day event has been organized by Masdar to promote future energy and sustainability. The summit will host its biggest knowledge-sharing program, featuring more than 350 of the energy sector's leading international experts, policymakers, academics, and future shapers.

The experts will share their insights on how to work with the plans set out at COP28 through five detailed conferences and three interactive forums.

Leen AlSebai, General Manager of RX Middle East and Head of the World Future Energy Summit explained that the "combined speaker platform represents a high-density gathering of the industry's foremost minds, each of whom will discuss and suggest potential pathways to achieving sustainability and renewable energy goals based on technology, changing policies, and evolving economics," WAM reported.

This year's event is being held under "The Energy To Lead" theme, with an emphasis on innovation. Experts and leaders will discuss important issues and groundbreaking ideas to help shape plans for a sustainable future.

The event also highlights the UAE's strong dedication to global sustainability and environmental collaboration. The summit features six conferences that will focus on Solar, Eco Waste, Water, Clean Energy, Smart Cities, and Climate & Environment.

Mary Burce Warlick, Deputy Executive Director of International Energy Agency, said, "To keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C within reach, countries must quickly build on the important energy pledges they made at COP28. Now is the time to transform promises into actions."

"With even stronger international cooperation needed through COP29 and COP30, this Summit provides a crucial opportunity to share the latest data, best practices and toolkits to tackle common challenges on the road to a more secure and sustainable energy future," she added.

During the event, other panel discussions will feature speakers like Emirates Steel Arkan Group CEO Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Emirates Global Aluminium CEO Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, and Tadweer Group's CEO Ali Al Dhaheri.

This year's knowledge program will have more female speakers than ever before, bringing a crucial perspective to various topics. They will discuss climate change, sustainable tourism, smart city technology, integrating circular economies, workplace diversity, and lessons learned from COP28.